The ache feels real. Sharp, sudden and impossible to ignore, even though the limb it comes from is gone. For many amputees, this haunting sensation is known as phantom limb pain.
What Causes Phantom Limb Pain?
While phantom limb pain can feel mysterious, doctors have learned much about why it happens and how to manage it.
To understand phantom limb pain, it helps first to understand how movement works. When you move, your nervous system sends signals between your brain, spinal cord and limbs.
After an amputation, those nerve pathways remain active even though the limb is gone. As your body adapts, the nervous system can sometimes send mixed or excessive signals, causing the brain to misinterpret them as pain coming from the missing limb.
What Does Phantom Limb Pain Feel Like?
In addition to feeling pain in the location of your missing limb, symptoms of phantom limb pain may include:
- Feeling like your missing limb is still there or is in a weird position
- Feeling like your missing limb is getting smaller or shorter
- Feeling like your missing fingers or toes are moving
- Feeling cold or hot
- Feeling a numb, tingly or prickly sensation in the location of your missing limb
Phantom limb pain may be cramping, burning, achy or sharp.
What Can Make Phantom Limb Pain Worse?
The following factors can worsen phantom limb pain:
- Swelling or too much pressure in the remaining limb, if you only had part of the limb removed
- Poor blood circulation
- An artificial limb (prosthetic) that does not fit right
- Illness or infection
- Stress
- Weather changes
- Fatigue
Is Phantom Limb Pain Treatable?
If you have phantom limb pain, you can try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as an aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if your doctor approves. Your doctor can also prescribe medication to reduce symptoms and calm nerve pain.
Are There Alternative Ways to Treat Phantom Limb Pain?
You can also try the following to care for your remaining limb if you only had part of your limb removed:
- Gently rubbing or tapping your remaining limb
- Applying different textures and materials to your remaining limb
- Wearing a compression stocking or an elastic bandage on your remaining limb to reduce swelling
- Taking off your prosthetic limb if you are wearing it, or putting on your prosthetic limb if you are not wearing it
- Exercising your remaining limb
- Keeping your remaining limb warm
Self-Care and Phantom Limb Pain
It can help to engage in self-care activities to lower the amount of pain and the intensity of symptoms you experience. Some self-care activities you can try include:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Reading
- Listening to music
- Taking a warm bath (if your surgery wound has healed)
With treatment and time, phantom limb pain usually improves. Typically, phantom limb pain tends to improve with prosthetic wear. Some patients eventually have their phantom limb pain completely go away, while others will manage milder symptoms over time.
UofL Health is Here for You
If you are struggling with phantom limb pain, UofL Physicians – Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, a part of UofL Health – Brain & Spine Institute, specializes in neurological and musculoskeletal medicine with a primary focus on restoring function. Our team uses the latest research and advanced techniques to aid recovery and improve quality of life. Our specialists provide care at UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, one of the most advanced rehabilitation facilities in the country.
A health care provider may refer you to a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for rehab care, or you can make an appointment yourself by calling 502-588-2160.
